Acid Alkaline Foods

ACID-FORMING & ALKALINE-FORMING FOODS

An acidic pH in your body can occur from an acid-forming diet, emotional stress, toxic overload, immune reactions, and/or any process that deprives the cells of oxygen and other nutrients. The body will try to neutralize and compensate for the acidic pH by using alkaline minerals. If your diet does not contain enough minerals to compensate, then a build up of acids in the cells will occur.

Acidic environment, or acidosis, will:

decrease the body's ability to absorb minerals and other nutrients

decrease the energy production in the cells

decrease the body's ability to repair damaged cells

decrease the body's ability to detoxify heavy metals

allow tumor cells thrive

force the body pull minerals from joints and bones (osteoporosis)

make the body more susceptible to fatigue and illness. (A blood pH of 6.9, which is acidic, can induce coma and death.)

The reason acidosis is more common in our society is mostly due to the typical American diet. The typical American's diet is far too high in acid-producing animal products like meat, eggs and dairy, and far too low in alkaline-producing foods like fresh vegetables. Additionally, we eat acid-producing processed foods like white flour and sugar, and drink acid-producing beverages like coffee and soft drinks. We use too many drugs, which are acid forming; and we use artificial chemical sweetners like NutraSweet, Spoonful, Sweet 'N Low, Equal, Splenda, or Aspartame, which are poisonous and extremely acid-forming. One of the best things we can do to correct an overly acid body is to clean up the diet and lifestyle.

In order to discuss systemic acidity, pH values must be explained. Most have heard of pH in reference to saliva pH. With saliva, a 7 pH is neutral, below 7 is acidic and above 7 is alkaline. There are actually three pH readings that can be used to determine the level of acidity/alkalinity: saliva, urine and blood. It is important to understand the distinction between each.

Saliva pH: A normal reading for saliva pH is 7.0; which indicates that there are enough alkaline reserves to digest foods properly. Saliva is the least accurate as it can be swayed by something as simple as chewing a piece of gum or sipping coffee prior to having it tested. However, it does provide quick feedback when it is not possible to obtain urine pH.

Urine pH: When testing urine pH, it should be in the range of 6.2. Urine pH, the most commonly used, provides rapid feedback regarding the overall status of one's daily food/beverage intake. Ideally, testing the urine pH should be done after eating high-protein, acid producing foods for 2 days. This will require the body to pull from its alkaline reserves in order to stabilize the acidic environment. Once these reserves are pulled from, the goal is to still have enough alkaline reserves remaining. Urine pH can change rather quickly as dietary changes are implemented. Since the kidneys are near the end point of the digestion-elimination process, the fluids entering the kidneys should already have been neutralized by the alkaline reserve. If the urine pH level is consistently low (5.5-5.8) over many readings and days, it is indicative that the diet is alkalizing, and therefore the body is not likely to be acidic. However, it also indicates that the individual is eating too many acid ash foods in the form of eggs, meat, fish, poultry, grains and cheese. The body is utilizing minerals to compensate for the acid producing foods it is receiving. These individuals need to make sure that they are balancing their protein intake with a more generous portion of vegetables and fruit. On the other hand, if urine pH consistently shows high pH levels (6.8-8.0), then over time the body is chronically acidic (emotional stressors or acid-generating foods), meaning that the supply of alkaline reserves is virtually gone. In this case, there are not enough alkaline reserves remaining so the body will begin utilizing nitrogen, which then produces ammonia, to neutralize the acid. The more protein in the kidney fluid, the more ammonia that is produced in the urine to eliminate excess acid build-up. Because ammonia is very alkaline, the urine pH quickly rises to 7.0. At this point the urine will smell like ammonia, and be foamy in appearance and/or the individual may experience a burning sensation while urinating. Cranberries are acid ash foods which allows them to neutralize the ammonia. This is why when someone begins to experience "burning" when urinating that cranberries will provide relief. So, to add to the confusion, it is possible to be too alkaline, as it means that your body is relying on its emergency back-up system in order to keep your pH in balance. Remember, ideally urine pH should be kept at about 6.2. When it rises higher or drops lower it is indicative of an imbalance.

Blood pH: Ideally blood pH should be at 7.4. As mentioned earlier, eating more alkaline foods can change the urine pH rather quickly. It cannot be assumed that the blood pH will change as rapidly. Positive dietary changes along with drinking at least 64 ounces of water per day, will allow the blood pH to stabilize over time.

Exercise and pH: With exercise, excessive lactic acid is produced. If the body is already acidic, this can create a dangerous situation. Acidic blood leads to muscle breakdown - and what is our heart? Muscle. In addition, acidosis of the blood results in calcium removal from the bone that is used to neutralize the acid. If calcium is continually pulled from the bone, osteopenia or osteoporosis will result. In addition, the calcium that was pulled into the blood will affect one's heart rate, which is already being raised with exercise. This same excess calcium will need to also be filtered by the kidneys (which can lead to kidney stone formation). The most important thing to understand is that the innate intelligence of the body will rob, borrow and steal from other fluids within the body to keep the blood pH at 7/4. In order to keep the pH at the appropriate level, other body areas are ultimately negatively affected.

To maintain health, the diet should consist of 60% alkaline-forming foods and 40% acid-forming foods. To restore health, the diet should consist of 80% alkaline-forming foods and 20% acid-forming foods.

Ranked Foods: Alkaline (pH) to Acidic (pH)

Alkaline: Meditation, Prayer, Peace, Kindness & Love

Acid: Overwork, Anger, Fear, Jealousy & Stress

Extremely Alkaline Forming Foods

Extremely Acid Forming Foods -

Lemons

Watermelon

Agar

Cantaloupe

Cayenne (Capsicum)

Dried dates & figs

Kelp

Karengo

Kudzu root

Limes

Mango

Melons

Papaya

Parsley

Seedless grapes(sweet)

Watercress

Seaweeds

Asparagus

Endive

Kiwifruit

Fruit juices

Grapes(sweet)

Passion fruit

Pears (sweet)

Pineapple

Raisins

Umeboshi plum

Vegetable juices

Artificial sweeteners

Beef

Carbonated soft drinks & fizzy drinks

Cigarettes (tailor made)

Drugs

Flour (white, wheat)

Goat

Lamb

Pastries & cakes from white flour,

Pork

Sugar (white) Beer

Brown sugar

Chicken

Deer

Chocolate

Coffee

Custard with white sugar

Jams,

Jellies

Liquor

Pasta (white)

Rabbit

Semolina

Table salt refined and iodized

Tea black

Turkey

Wheatbread

White rice

White vinegar (processed)

Moderate Alkaline

Moderate Acid

Apples (sweet)

Apricots

Alfalfa sprouts

Arrowroot Flour

Avocados

Bananas (ripe)

Berries

Carrots

Celery

Currants

Dates & figs(fresh)

Garlic

Gooseberry

Grapes (less sweet)

Grapefruit

Guavas

Herbs (leafy green)

Lettuce(leafy green)

Nectarine

Peaches (sweet)

Pears (less sweet)

Peas (fresh sweet)

Pumpkin (sweet)

Sea salt (vegetable)

Spinach

Apples (sour)

Bamboo shoots

Beans (fresh green)

Beets

Bell Pepper

Broccoli

Cabbage

Cauliflour

Ginger (fresh)

Grapes (sour)

Kale

Kohlrabi

Lettuce (pale green)

Oranges

Parsnip

Peaches (less sweet)

Peas (less sweet)

Potatoes & skin

Pumpkin (less sweet)

Raspberry

Strawberry

Squash

Sweet corn (fresh)

Turnip

Vinegar (apple cider)

Cigarette tobacco (roll your own)

Cream of Wheat (unrefined)

Fish

Fruit juices with sugar

Maple syrup (processed)

Molasses (sulphured)

Pickles (commercial)

Breads (refined) of corn

oats

rice & rye

Cereals (refined) eg. weetbix

corn flakes

Shellfish

Wheat germ

Whole Wheat foods

Wine

Yogurt (sweetened)

Bananas (green)

Buckwheat

Cheeses (sharp)

Corn & rice breads

Egg whole (cooked hard)

Ketchup

Mayonnaise

Oats

Pasta (whole grain)

Pastry (wholegrain & honey)

Peanuts

Potatoes(with no skins)

Popcorn (with salt & butter)

Rice (basmati)

Rice (brown)

Soy sauce (commercial)

Tapioca

Wheat bread (sprouted organic)

Slightly Alkaline to Neutral pH

Slightly Acid to Neutral pH

Almonds

Artichokes (Jerusalem)

Barley-Malt (sweetener-Bronner)

Brown Rice Syrup

Brussel Sprouts

Cherries

Coconut (fresh)

Cucumbers

Eggplant

Honey (raw)

Leeks

Miso

Mushrooms

Okra

Olives ripe

Onions

Pickles (home made)

Radish

Sea salt

Spices

Taro

Tomatoes (sweet)

Vinegar (sweet brown rice)

Water Chestnut

Amaranth

Artichoke (globe)

Chestnuts (dry roasted)

Egg yolks (soft cooked)

Essene bread

Goat's milk and whey (raw)

Horseradish

Mayonnaise (home made)

Millet

Olive oil

Quinoa

Rhubarb

Sesame seeds (whole)

Soy beans (dry)

Soy cheese

Soy milk

Sprouted grains

Tofu

Tomatoes (less sweet)

Yeast (nutritional flakes)

Barley malt syrup

Barley

Bran

Cashews

Cereals (unrefined with honey-fruit-maple syrup

Cornmeal

Cranberries

Fructose

Honey (pasteurized)

Lentils

Macadamias

Maple syrup (unprocessed)

Milk (homogenized) and most processed dairy products

Molasses (un-sulphered organic)

Nutmeg

Mustard

Pistachios

Popcorn & butter (plain)

Rice or wheat crackers (unrefined)

Rye (grain)

Rye bread (organic sprouted)

Seeds (pumpkin & sunflower)

Walnuts

Blueberries

Brazil nuts

Butter (salted)

Cheeses(mild & crumbly)

Crackers (unrefined rye)

Dried beans (mung, adzuki, pinto, kidney, garbanzo)

Dry coconut

Egg whites

Goats milk (homogenized)

Olives (pickled)

Pecans

Plums

Prunes

Spelt

UNKNOWN:
There are several versions of the Acidic and Alkaline Food chart to be found in different books and on the Internet. The following foods are sometimes attributed to the Acidic side of the chart and sometimes to the Alkaline side. Remember, you don't need to adhere strictly to the Alkaline side of the chart, just make sure a good percentage of the foods you eat come from that side.

* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease; research is ongoing.

Alka Green Tabs®

This 100% barley juice concentrate is the basic Alka·Green™ product. Recommended as the best overall body alkalizer, it is grown under organic conditions, contains no chemical fertilizer, insecticides, or pesticides. It is not diluted, so it provides the maximum concentration of the naturally chelated colloidal alkaline minerals so vital to health. Do not be fooled by other barley products which may be diluted up to 40%by Maltodextrin and brown rice which means they may be 40% less effective than Alka·Green™ in alkalizing the body.

Featured Articles

Read about helpful topics

Young peoples' bones stop growing by approximately age 20, somewhat earlier in women and somewhat later in men. Long bone growth, that is, in the arm, forearm, thigh, and leg, ceases later and smaller bone growth, that is, in the hands, feet, and spine, ceases earlier. In essence, you're as tall as you're ...

Spring is arriving. The days are getting longer, the air is fresher, and the sunlight is brighter. Flowers and bushes are beginning to bloom. Tree sap is running and there are new baby animals in the world. In short, the world is being renewed and, if we choose to, we too can actively participate in ...

Children and adults are the same but different. Most kids want to play all the time, but they also are required to go to school. Most adults would prefer to play all the time – relax, go to the gym, read a book, watch TV, or get together with friends – but most adults need to go to work at least ...

Concussions are becoming increasingly common, especially among school-age athletes. It has been estimated that there are up to 3.8 million sports-related concussions in the United States each year. Concussions are problematic as, by definition, a concussive injury involves some degree of trauma to the ...

In the depths of winter, adults, as well as children, exert themselves to engage in enjoyable outdoor activities that will keep them warm and provide both excitement and entertainment. Cross-country skiing, downhill skiing, sledding, ice hockey, figure skating, and speed skating all have their enthusiasts.
Many ...

Being a Change Agent
For most of us, change happens slowly, if at all. But as the recent holiday season fades into the distance, many of us wish to be increasingly proactive this year and take real action on the numerous New Year's resolutions that we made in regard to our health and well-being.
Back ...

In early winter, whether we're celebrating Hanukkah or Christmas, both or nothing at all, families and friends gather to share food and drink and give thanks for a year successfully completed. We send up a rousing holiday cheer and share delicious holiday cheer in celebration of our accomplishments and ...

Healthy knees require continuous motion. However, our generally sedentary lifestyles are at odds with the maintenance of robust knee joint architecture. Left motionless throughout large portions of the day, over time knee cartilage will break down and knee ligaments will become lax. These chronic changes ...

When Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes applied himself to a difficult case, he famously utilized his powers of deduction. Holmes assembled and examined the facts before him and employed a scientific method of analysis to arrive at a solution that took into account of all the elements of the ...

Whether we're driving a car, riding a bike, or trying to record a spare at our local bowling alley, our musculoskeletal system bases its decision-making on past history, that is, what it has learned before. Drawing on years of experience, recorded deep within our muscle memory, we're able to avoid an ...